Masonic Summonses
I've always been fascinated by these
In my Jurisdiction, and I presume others, Masonic Summonses are quite rare. In all my years as a Mason, I don’t recall ever receiving one. But, I have sent a few.
I find them interesting, because a requirement to answer and obey them is included within our Obligations, and doing so is just about the easiest thing that can be. If you receive one, all you have to do (again in my Jurisdiction) is either show up at the designated time and place, or reach out to explain the reason why you can’t.
Super easy, and required by the Obligations we have all taken.
With of course, rather extreme penalties attached if such a thing is ignored. Except as my good Brother Larry is fond of reminding me, apparently such penalties are symbolic.
What I find fascinating about Masonic Summonses is that they are just about the easiest things in our Obligations to comply with, yet over and over Brothers seem content to ignore them. Seriously violating their Obligations as a result.
When I was Grand Master, I once had occasion to send Summonses to the primary Officers of a particular Lodge. Three showed up, two ignored the Summons they had received. No phone call, no email, no nothing.
I suspended those two Brothers from Masonry.
The fellow who assumed the Grand East after me did the same thing with a different Lodge. He was looking for the Master, Warden’s, Secretary, and Treasurer to show up to a meeting with him. In his case two showed up, one called with an explanation that he had a scheduling conflicts, and two ignored it.
He suspended those two Brothers from Masonry.
I guess that I find it fascinating, because I find it so odd.
In both of those cases we knew that the Summonses we received, because we sent them through the U.S. Mail, with signatures required on delivery and return receipts.
And in all cases, in my Jurisdiction, our Obligations are extremely clear that Summonses must be responded to.
Everyone knows. There can be no doubt.
Many parts of our Obligations are discussed between Masons. What they mean, why they are included, how they should be interpreted. Things of that nature. But, I rarely hear the lines about Masonic Summonses discussed, and those provisions are perhaps the most blatantly ignored.
I just find that odd.
Yeah, I understand what you are saying. I guess with our many obligations, and the symbolic nature of the penalties, many brothers process the obligations as symbolic as well, and in many cases they are probably right. Honestly, we have a lot of trials over our code, but how many over our obligations? Not that the obligations should be or were intended to be symbolic. The penalties were of course, but not the obligations.
Our lodge still sends summonses for every communication. It is the method we use for reserving and paying for the festive board that follows the meeting. Sadly, we get about a 25% response (typically the brothers attending). Apparently, clicking the "Regret" button is a bridge too far...